Robert King Carter's Correspondence and Diary

   A Collection Transcribed
        and Digitized
   by Edmund Berkeley, Jr.


List of Letters | About This Collection

Electronic Text Center , University of Virginia Library


Summary



Letter from Robert Carter to William Dawkins, May 13 and June 2, 1727

     Robert Carter writes to London merchant William Dawkins, May 13 and June 2, 1727, compaining about the prices realized in Dawkins' tobacco sales and reporting that he has lost at least 70 slaves. He will call upon his balance in Dawkins' hands for £4-500 in their replacement. A bill of lading (not present) for 20 hogsheads of tobacco is enclosed. Merchant Micajah Perry has been so indifferent to Carter that he is thinking of ending his business with Perry. The problems of the Carter and her captain, Adam Graves, receive comment. In a post script, Carter writes that he has learned of the failure of London merchant Thomas Evans who owes him about £400 but that he understands that there is very little money available to pay Evans' creditors.



Letter from Robert Carter to William Dawkins, May 13 and June 2, 1727


-1 -

Rappahannock, [Lancaster County, Virginia]

May the 13th: 1727 --

Mr. Wm. Dawkins

Sir --

     I have now your Letters by the Welcome [with]
my Accot: Currt: which comes out at less by Several hundred of pounds
then I promised my Self, and to these poor prices for my Tobbo: Go[d]
in his Providence hath vissited me with a Terrible Stroke in my
familys I have not lost less than Seventy working Slaves, May
I learn to Say with the Psalmist it is good for me that I have
bin Afflicted, To Supply these breaches upon me will drain
me of a great deal of money I Shall in a Short Time value
my Self upon you for 400 or 500.£

     herein Send you a bill of Lading for 20 hhds:
of my own Crop Tobbo: on board the Betty Capt: Keiling Wee are
all told of an Empty market and that the new Crop is Expected
to Sell much better, My Tobbo: formerly used to keep pace with
the best Crops in York its very hard upon me that 8 1/2 d and 8 d is to
be my doom and from 9 d to 10 d to be the York prices,

     Mr. Perry hath treated me so indifferently not
to say unjustly that unless he will give me Satisfaction in
some things [in] our future Correspondance I beleive will Entirely
break I Send him no Tobbo: this year neither of my own nor
Mr. Burwells of which Concern I Sent you 20 hhds: by the Spotwood
Capt: Bradbey In hopes you will be able to keep up the Credit of that
Crop I have orderd 18 hhds: to go on board Graves Altho he does not
deserve so much respect from me if what I hear of his reports
Concerning the Carter be true that She is a Crazy Ship damagd
a great part of her Tobbo: last year was upon Sale and he beleivd
She would not come in with other Storeys to her disadvantage
I think for your Sake as well as mine he had better have kept
these Storeys to himself.

     I am now to tell you the hopeless Circumstances
the Carter is in The Welcome cuts her out of some Dove
protests to me and he hath visited all the river from the head
to foot that with large Allowances he cannot promise himself
above Six hundred hhds. I have a great deal of reason to Com=
plain


-2 -


that this Ship is left so heavily upon my hands I never fail
to Load my full Quota and to Spare and yet I am always brought
in to pay Dead freight I shall have frequent Opportunitys
of writing Conclude at present



Yor: very humble Servt.

Who to Send these 18 hhds: to on board Graves
I am to Consider they must go Where there
will be money to Clear them and I am
doubtfull you will not advance a penny
beyond Assets. -- per Keiling
Copy per Hopkins

June the 2d: 1727
This day Capt: Keeling hath
given me bills of Lading for my
20 hhds: on board him I have now
yors: of the 15th. March it brings me a melancholly
Storey of the fate of Poor Tom Evans he owes me near
£400:-"-thus I am mortifyed on every Side Pray God ena
ble me to bear it with
a Christian resolution Mr. Cary tells me
he beleives he will not
be able to pay half a
Crown in the pound if so, it will hardly be worth while to Send a power of
Atturney.

NOTES



Source copy consulted: Robert Carter Letter Book, 1727 April 13-1728 July 23, Carter Family Papers, Virginia Historical Society, Richmond.

Robert Carter generally used a return address of "Rappahannock" for the river on which he lived rather than "Corotoman," the name of his home, on his correspondence, especially to merchants abroad. The county and colony have been added for clarity to the heading on the draft.

[1] The 140 ton Welcome was owned by London merchant James Bradley to whom Carter would write about her on 1727 May 17. ( Adm 68/195, 154r, found in the microfilms of the Virginia Colonial Records Project, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia. )

[2] Captain William Keiling commanded the Betty. ( Survey Report 6800, Virginia Colonial Records Project, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia )

[3] This London ship was commanded by James Bradby, 1727-1732. ( Adm 68/195, 70r ff., found in the microfilms of the Virginia Colonial Records Project, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia. )

[4] The Rappahannock

[5] Captain James Hopkins commanded the Mary in 1727-1728. He was then working for London merchant Robert Cary. He is mentioned in Carter's diary. ( Adm. 68/194, ff.9v, found in the microfilms of the Virginia Colonial Records Project, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia. )